DEAR SANTA – A Review by Cynthia Flores
If I had known last year what 2020 would bring and I got to write a letter to Santa, I would have asked for a movie just like this. Dear Santa is the heartwarming documentary about the 100-year-old Operation Santa Program of the United States Postal Service. In good times and bad times, this great American tradition has helped kids and needy families have a merry Christmas.
Dear Santa shows us that hundreds of thousands of letters to Santa arrive at Post Offices around the country each year. Through Operation Santa and his helper elves, the United States Postal Service makes it possible for the public to safely adopt these letters. And make children’s dreams come true. The elves (volunteers and postal workers) get so much joy making it happen. Either as a personal yearly tradition or on a broader sponsor-supported level. Every year these elves support this program. Dear Santa takes audiences along for the magic of this massive endeavor. Traveling the country, much like Santa does on Christmas Eve, the film focuses on select Operation Santa centers. Some in metropolitan areas like the massive operation in New York City and others in small towns where the post office is the heart of the community.
The film highlights letters where a child asks for something poignant, something that goes beyond the common wish for a new toy. Santa explains how he enlists kind-hearted strangers for these special requests while he concentrates on toy making and his demanding delivery schedule. As the elves often say in the film, “Santa is very busy, so we’re just helping him get it all done.”
Dana Nachman is a great director. Mixing an incredible storytelling ability with his unprecedented access to this United States Postal Service program, Dana has given us a timeless hit. The film brings us inspiring stories of people reaching out to strangers to make their lives a little better. This film is a godsend in these times of economic downturn and pandemic. Dear Santa manages to spark hope in our better selves as we watch these inspiring stories. I dare you not to cry with tears of joy as this film inspires us with the holiday spirit.
I give Dear Santa a 5-star rating. Just buy it and add it to your collection of Christmas films you watch each year. It’s that good.
Directed by: Dana Nachman
Written by: Dana Nachman
Rated: NR
Selig Rating: 5 Stars
Running Time: 1hr 24min
Documentary/Family
Release: In limited theaters and VOD December 4th
Starring: Damion DiGrazia, Orlando Mendez, Andrew Wallace
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
